Buckeyes off to Lexington for Kentucky Invitational

Columbus, Ohio – The Ohio State track and field team will make its way down to Lexington, Ky., to compete in the Kentucky Invitational on Friday and Saturday (Jan. 12-13). The two-day invitational will take place at The University of Kentucky’s Nutter Field House.

Friday’s events are limited and will begin with the men’s weight throw at 3:30 p.m. ET followed by the women’s weight throw at 5:30 p.m. The only track events of the first day of competition will be the women’s and men’s distance medley relays that are slated to begin at 7 p.m. Saturday’s action will get started at 9 a.m. ET with the women’s and men’s high jump going on simultaneously at two different pits. Running events will begin at 12 p.m. with the prelims of the 60m hurdles.

B1G Athletes of the WeekNick Gray (track), Sade Olatoye (field) and Nick Demaline (field) were all awarded for their season-opening performances last weekend at the Buckeye Classic with Big Ten honors on Wednesday (Jan. 10).

Olatoye set the school record in the shot put with a toss of 17.34m (56-10.75) to claim her first gold of the season. The junior also registered a mark of 21.32m (69-11.50) in the weight throw to claim her second first-place finish of the Buckeye Classic. Both of Olatoye’s marks of 17.34m and 21.32m rank No. 2 nationally.

Gray dashed to gold in the 60m dash with a career-best time of 6.66. Gliding down the track at French Field House, Gray broke Anthony Cole’s (6.69) field house record that he set in 2007. The time for Gray also represents the second-fastest time in the NCAA and the second-fastest time in school history.

Demaline became the first Buckeye male field athlete to earn Athlete of the Week honors since 2012 with his massive shot put performance. Coming off a stellar junior season, Demaline kicked off 2018 with a gold in the shot put with a mark of 19.70m (64-7.75). His throw of 19.70m is easily the best throw in the NCAA this season.

In addition to the marks of the three award winners, Cole Gorski (pole vault) and Aaron Zedella (weight throw) each registered national marks. Gorski set the school record in the pole vault with a personal-best clearance of 5.40m (17-8.50) to rank second nationally. Zedella threw the weight apparatus 21.02m (68-11.75) for the eighth-best throw in the NCAA to claim gold.

Fans can follow along all the action of this weekend’s meet on Twitter @OhioState_TFXC.